Chapter 8

“Yes?”

Pushing the door open, the soldier went in. “You drew the short straw. “

A few candles lit the room. Jamal was sitting on a bed, sorting items into a leather pouch. “Oh?”

“You found him, well, you and Tarik, and you have a spare bunk. He’s sleeping here.”

“Okay,” Jamal answered.

“Bhati’s hanging onto him for the moment. Keep him out of trouble.” Turning to leave, the soldier added, “I’d keep an eye on him for general purposes, too.”

“Noted,” Jamal replied as his colleague left. “You can use that one. Tarik’s been sent on errand to the main military complex. He won’t be back for a couple of days.” He pointed at the bare pallet on the wooden bunk by the back wall, the third one in the room.

Nev assumed the empty one with blankets was Tarik’s.

Jamal got up and took a blanket from the foot of Tarik’s bed. “You can borrow this at least for the night. I’ll talk to the lieutenant in the morning about acquiring you some temporary extra bedding and a change of clothes.”